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Definitely one of my favorite adventures this year!  I love this tree! I could look at it for hours…(from April 29)  From April 25th, early for Father's Day, actually for my Dad's birthday in May!  I'm starting a daily drawing practice, where I draw for 10-15 minutes each morning after my dog walk. Here is one that took a few days of small increments that became a birthday card for a loved one. I've become a little rusty in my hiatus from drawing Squishy Blueberry, while focusing on my comic strip, but I'll get back and even better. Stay tuned for more!  By Fredley B. FreebowitzenChapter 1: The beginning and the EndIt all started out with an Eggbert and a Feebert, neither of whom realized they were the only two things that existed in the entire emptiness of nothing. They were in fact sitting right next to each other, but neither knew the other existed because neither had any ears to hear, eyes to see, nor feelers to touch anything outside of themselves. What’s even more strange is that they weren’t even conscious of their own existences. Eggbert was not conscious it was an Eggbert and that it existed. Nor was Feebert conscious that it was a Feebert and that it existed. So the whole concept of something existing outside of themselves wouldn’t have made sense anyways. Millions of billions of years passed with Eggbert and Feebert sitting side by side in the vast emptiness where nothing else existed - except of course the space between them. And because they didn't know they existed, neither of them wondered where they came from. And because neither was aware the other existed, they never wondered about the other. This is how the story begins. This is also how - for nine bazillion years - the story ends. Until, after nine bazillion years and one day something changed... Chapter 2: The MiddleIt's hard to described exactly what happened - or how or why - on that nine bazillionth year and one'th day. As you can imagine, nothing becoming something is quite a miraculous feat. And nothing becoming something after nine bazillion years - well, it's almost unimaginable. It was abrupt like a flash of light, yet subtle like a ripple in a pond. It was earth shattering, yet flowing. It was against all odds, yet inevitable. It kind of sounded like: "shhhhhhhhhwooooopowowowowowowdingphooooooeyshhhhhh." And then, everything was the same again. Except it wasn't. Eggbert suddenly was aware of Feebert. And Feebert was aware of Eggbert. It was a kind of knowing - not from seeing or hearing or touching - but just sensing a presence nearby. And interestingly it was only after they were aware of the other that they became aware of themselves. And what a realization that was!! Or was it? Neither Eggbert nor Feebert was the slightest bit shocked or surprised when they became aware of their own existences. Because they couldn't remember not existing, it was as if they always had. And all of this - the abrupt flashing earth-shattering flowing ripple of light, the "shhhhhhwoooopowowowowdingphoooooeyshhhh," the sense of the other, and the realization of themselves - all of this happened in the space of a single moment, the smallest increment of time imaginable. Chapter 3: The Beginning AgainAs with all adventures and stories, the end is just a new beginning.
To Be Continued….
It's Nedley here to share with you that Squishy Blueberry's next book is now available for pre-order. If you join us on the adventure early on, you get a 20% discount because it helps us with planning and more importantly provides emotional support by reminding us there are people out there that care. "Introducing a collection of whimsical rhymes |
 | Guest Blogger: |  |
If a tree falls in a forest and there's no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Well, the vibrating sound waves do travel through the air, but the concept of SOUND requires an ear to hear it. So no, there's no sound.
The sound of a tree falling in forest with no one around is akin to a good idea forming with no one around or willing to hear and implement it. No one gets helped by ideas kept inside the mind, or told to people that aren't interested.
That's why it's so important to be in the right environment in order to see one's potential realized. Our gifts, by definition, need to be given to others - for it is by reaching other that one's gifts and messages can make a difference.
You can feel like a useless fool in one environment and a useful team player with great abilities in a totally different environment. Yes, our life direction comes from within; but fulfillment, for me at least, is seeing goals realized and seeing my gifts received by those that benefit and resonate with it.
Well, the vibrating sound waves do travel through the air, but the concept of SOUND requires an ear to hear it. So no, there's no sound.
The sound of a tree falling in forest with no one around is akin to a good idea forming with no one around or willing to hear and implement it. No one gets helped by ideas kept inside the mind, or told to people that aren't interested.
That's why it's so important to be in the right environment in order to see one's potential realized. Our gifts, by definition, need to be given to others - for it is by reaching other that one's gifts and messages can make a difference.
You can feel like a useless fool in one environment and a useful team player with great abilities in a totally different environment. Yes, our life direction comes from within; but fulfillment, for me at least, is seeing goals realized and seeing my gifts received by those that benefit and resonate with it.
"There's no greater agony
than bearing an untold story inside you."
~Maya Angelou
It's possible that if you feel like you are not succeeding in your career or life's goals, it's simply because you are not in the right place - not that you need to fix anything inside you. Perhaps our focus should be on determining where we will best thrive - where we belong - as much as on honing our skills and bettering ourselves.
In fact, isn't this what the most adept businesses work on - finding and understanding their market?
Knowing your customers is a bit like knowing where you belong. When you find your market, you not only make more sales, but you get the feedback you need on how to better your product or your art or stories from the people who care, the people who benefit from the gifts you have to offer, the people you serve, the people that will hear you when you speak, whisper, or scream out your message.
In fact, isn't this what the most adept businesses work on - finding and understanding their market?
Knowing your customers is a bit like knowing where you belong. When you find your market, you not only make more sales, but you get the feedback you need on how to better your product or your art or stories from the people who care, the people who benefit from the gifts you have to offer, the people you serve, the people that will hear you when you speak, whisper, or scream out your message.
The same attitude can be applied towards finding a friend. It truly is as much if not more about finding the one(s) who can appreciate you, than on you becoming a better person. Yes, of course, we are always learning, and there are times when we need to be alone to reflect and grow. But at a certain point, our energies are best focused on finding the receiver of our gifts.
I would even go so far as to say that it's your duty as a child of the universe to share your gifts with those who can benefit from and appreciate them.
And that begins with finding those people.
I would even go so far as to say that it's your duty as a child of the universe to share your gifts with those who can benefit from and appreciate them.
And that begins with finding those people.
GUEST BLOGGER: Amanda I. Greene
Have you thought about this question lately? What has your Ego done for you lately?
If you are anything like me, when your ego is in the drivers seat, it probably sabotages your greatest joys - whether it's your love life or your job or social life. Pretty much, whenever it's around, it manages to destroy everything good in its wake. And it is actually when it's not present that the magic and beauty and joy happens!
But wait! You say. Are you saying that my ego sabotages everything in my life, and that is all it does? Isn't the ego necessary? Don't I need a sense of self? Then what part of me does the good things? You're not making any sense!
If you are anything like me, when your ego is in the drivers seat, it probably sabotages your greatest joys - whether it's your love life or your job or social life. Pretty much, whenever it's around, it manages to destroy everything good in its wake. And it is actually when it's not present that the magic and beauty and joy happens!
But wait! You say. Are you saying that my ego sabotages everything in my life, and that is all it does? Isn't the ego necessary? Don't I need a sense of self? Then what part of me does the good things? You're not making any sense!
Let's call it Ned then
It's just semantics. What I am calling ego is the voice in your head that is anything but completely loving to yourself. You find, if you listen closely enough, that the voice of your GOOD, which is loving towards you, isn't even a voice - it's a whisper from the heart that you can only hear when you stop the mind chatter that is ego.
That is my definition. We can call it Ned if you like. But what I am referring to is any voice in your head that is not loving. And most of the mind chatter in our heads is not loving. Even seemingly innocuous thoughts that aren't "negative" per se are still hurting us by taking us out of the moment.
So it is to this definition of Ego - that we will now call Ned - that this post refers.
If you really think about it, the fact that there is a non-loving critical voice called Ned in our heads is actually kind of strange. WHY, given that we all want happiness and joy, would we ever say mean things to ourselves and continually keep joy and happiness at bay?
That is my definition. We can call it Ned if you like. But what I am referring to is any voice in your head that is not loving. And most of the mind chatter in our heads is not loving. Even seemingly innocuous thoughts that aren't "negative" per se are still hurting us by taking us out of the moment.
So it is to this definition of Ego - that we will now call Ned - that this post refers.
If you really think about it, the fact that there is a non-loving critical voice called Ned in our heads is actually kind of strange. WHY, given that we all want happiness and joy, would we ever say mean things to ourselves and continually keep joy and happiness at bay?
Ned is a compulsive Liar
Ned is a compulsive liar who has one agenda and one agenda only: to continue to exist. It IS the darkness, and to continue to exist it must continually feed you with beliefs that keep you in the darkness.
We are familiar with critical thoughts that go through our heads. Any variation along the lines of "I am worthless/worthy of this criticism/don't deserve to be happy" is the voice of Ned and is a lie. (Granted we can make it appear true by self-sabotage and keeping what we want at bay thereby realizing the experience of "not deserving." But none of these things are true without us buying in to them).
What we may not be as aware of is that sly old Ned has come up with additional lies to justify saying these mean things! Do any of these sound familiar?
We are familiar with critical thoughts that go through our heads. Any variation along the lines of "I am worthless/worthy of this criticism/don't deserve to be happy" is the voice of Ned and is a lie. (Granted we can make it appear true by self-sabotage and keeping what we want at bay thereby realizing the experience of "not deserving." But none of these things are true without us buying in to them).
What we may not be as aware of is that sly old Ned has come up with additional lies to justify saying these mean things! Do any of these sound familiar?
- "I'm trying to bring myself down to earth." (Oh really. Are you really flying that high, Ned, that you need to be brought down to earth? Most likely you are suffering in some kind of hell and need to be brought up)
- "I don't want myself to get too arrogant." (Really, Ned? You are TOO confident? You believe in yourself THAT much? If that were true, wouldn't you also be the most empowered person you know with all the success in the world?)
- "I want to be honest. Honesty is acknowledging the darkness and not wearing rose colored glasses." (Really? So you are saying most people wear rose colored glasses? If that's true why aren't most people you know bouncing around with joy all over?)
- "I'm keeping me safe by staying small and hidden and not speaking my truth." (Safe? Safe in hell? Awesome, you go do that)
If You Aren't Angry at Ned, then You're Already Dead
So I will ask again: WHAT HAS NED DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
Here is what Ned, when in the drivers seat, has done for me - not just lately - but for over 30 years.
Here is what Ned, when in the drivers seat, has done for me - not just lately - but for over 30 years.
- it's pushed away love and intimacy with fear
- it's sabotaged my jobs through an exaggerated need to prove I'm good/smart enough
- it has kept me from truly living by keeping me out of the present moment with its incessant mind chatter.
| Think about it though. What if SOMEONE ELSE did the above things to you- for 30 years no less!? Wouldn't you be angry? I would enraged!!! I'd want them to go to prison for life. But it's not "someone else". It's me, I mean Ned - Ned did this to me, which is even worse! How dare I not care for myself, love myself and make the best of this ONE LIFE!! |  |
The only way one wouldn't be upset at Ned for this is if you had already passed on into the "non-physical" after life (or achieved some form of rare enlightenment on earth) where Ned doesn't even exist.
You Triumph over Ted by not listening to it
(i.e. Our power is in the absence of thoughts)
But where is our power? If the "I" in our heads is Ned, and we can't listen to Ned because Ned's a compulsive liar, how do I know what to do?
I believe our power is in quieting the thoughts as best as we possibly can.
Our power is in feeling to our core that the critical/mean thoughts in our head are lies.
Our power is in FEELING the truth which is always GOOD so strongly that Ned's big fat lies cannot penetrate.
It sounds so cliche but it's true: The power is in the heart
Think about. When have you been the happiest? I'll bet that most of your happiest memories are when you were part of a group working towards something greater than yourself, where you weren't worried about being "good enough" because you simply FELT good already. You didn't have to *think* about it at all. You were just being, being a part of something good, connected, loved.
Unfortunately - for many of us - these experiences came and went without us learning how to recreate them. They were probably a culmination of a bunch of forces and people coming together, or the result of coming across a strong unifying teacher/leader who we were blessed to have as a guide at some point. For me, many of these memories are when I was younger and had not built up as many fears and ways of self sabotaging.
The only way to recreate these experiences of unity and team work is to quiet the mind. Yes, another over-used phrased. But I can't think of another solution. Doing and keeping busy can be a tool to achieve a quieter mind, but it is not the end all be all. In fact, I know that if my mind was quieter I'd get stuck less and follow my heart and do even more!
I believe our power is in quieting the thoughts as best as we possibly can.
Our power is in feeling to our core that the critical/mean thoughts in our head are lies.
Our power is in FEELING the truth which is always GOOD so strongly that Ned's big fat lies cannot penetrate.
It sounds so cliche but it's true: The power is in the heart
Think about. When have you been the happiest? I'll bet that most of your happiest memories are when you were part of a group working towards something greater than yourself, where you weren't worried about being "good enough" because you simply FELT good already. You didn't have to *think* about it at all. You were just being, being a part of something good, connected, loved.
Unfortunately - for many of us - these experiences came and went without us learning how to recreate them. They were probably a culmination of a bunch of forces and people coming together, or the result of coming across a strong unifying teacher/leader who we were blessed to have as a guide at some point. For me, many of these memories are when I was younger and had not built up as many fears and ways of self sabotaging.
The only way to recreate these experiences of unity and team work is to quiet the mind. Yes, another over-used phrased. But I can't think of another solution. Doing and keeping busy can be a tool to achieve a quieter mind, but it is not the end all be all. In fact, I know that if my mind was quieter I'd get stuck less and follow my heart and do even more!
It's really a battle of love vs. fear
 | The other day I felt determined to wage an all out holy war against Ned. Anything other than a loving thought towards myself is an act of violence and I will retaliate back! But then I realized, wait, you can't fight fear with fear....so...the war is not really a violent war at all. To fight the violence you have to choose love. Love and fear cannot co-exist. Fill it up with love, and Ned with disappear. |
Have you ever been followed by the moon
the moon?
Cried out in the night like a loon
a loon?
Or sung a ridiculous tune
a tune?
While feeling a bit like a goon
a goon?
How 'bout sailing on a lagoon
lagoon?
and rowing the boat with a spoon
a spoon?
while talking to a dancing baboon
baboon?
On a midsummer night in June
in June?
Imagine you're in a cartoon
cartoon
Travelling inside a balloon
balloon.
on a trip with a wild raccoon
raccoon
to conquer the evil buffoon
buffoon
I found destiny inside of a rune
a rune.
engraved in a golden sand dune
sand dune.
Saw beauty that made me swoon
me swoon.
Sorry it ended so soon
so soon.
Squishy Speaks:
For the Inner Child
in all of us,
focusing on things we learn in Kindergarten
and often forget in our day to day lives as we grow up.
Our intention is to be a reminder of what's important for living meaningful lives that reflect our hearts' desires and dreams.
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